Glen Rock volunteers to aid seniors during emergency situations

Trained borough volunteers will soon monitor Glen Rock seniors, and others who have registered with the emergency help network, during storms and other emergency situations.

Glen Rock seniors, and others who have registered with the borough's new special needs emergency help network, should be hearing shortly from Mayor John van Keuren and program volunteers.

The initiative, headed by Councilwoman Pam Biggs and Office of Emergency Management coordinator Joanne Perry, is assigning groups of three to five signees to each of the trained volunteers, who will monitor and as necessary visit them in the event of storms and other emergency situations.

The approximately 60 residents thus far requesting the service will first receive a letter from the mayor, stating that, "By signing up, you have enabled the Emergency Management Team to be aware of your possible need for assistance in times of serious storms, power outages or other severe emergency situations.

"After experiencing Superstorm Sandy this past October, the Office of Emergency Management, the mayor and the council decided that the town would like to have a greater understanding of the needs of Glen Rock's senior residents and/or those with special needs during emergency situations," it continues.

Anyone wishing to sign up for program services, or to volunteer, is asked to contact Perry at jperry@glenrocknj.net or 201-832-8048 or OEM assistant coordinator Noreen Egan at negan316@gmail.com or 201-832-8047. Information is also available from Borough Administrator Lenora Benjamin at lbenjamin@glenrocknj.net or 201-670-3956.

Biggs told the Glen Rock Gazette this week that most of the 10 to 15 contact persons, many of whom already volunteer with the OEM's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), received program training earlier this month.

Once in contact, the volunteers will determine their "clients'" individual situations and needs, including how to reach them and vice versa, any specific medical or health issues, and whether they have family members or close friends in town or close by.

Biggs emphasized that the residents will be clearly instructed as to how the volunteers would contact them and introduce themselves, as an assurance to seniors who have been cautioned by police and other authorities to be suspicious of potential scammers. She added that all information shared by residents with their contacts, including the location and contact information of family members and others, will be kept confidential, and used only for assisting during times of emergency.

Contact volunteers will be required to call residents assigned to them in advance of potential weather-related emergencies or other situations that can be |anticipated, to counsel them, establish what needs they might have, and determine whether they have other assistance |immediately available.

In assessing resident |requirements, the contacts will determine several factors:

• Does the resident have basic supplies, such as water, food, prescriptions, flashlights, etc.?

• Is he or she a "Meals on Wheels" or other assistance client?

• Are family members or neighbors who are usually in touch with the resident located in town and readily available?

• Does he or she ever use a cell phone or email?

• Do residents have an alternative place to go if necessary?

• Health and medical considerations include whether residents are on oxygen or depend on other equipment that requires power, and whether they are mobile.

With that knowledge, Biggs said the OEM team can direct and transport residents to available shelters, facilitate plowing or snow-shoveling services, and identify groups or individuals to possibly run short errands or provide meals for a limited period.

She emphasized that all services will strictly be available in connection with emergency conditions, and are not intended as day-to-day, long-term assistance, such as grocery and drug store shopping, shoveling and property cleanup and other ongoing services.

While Perry is attempting to group and assign residents based on the proximity of the volunteers, Biggs noted that depending upon the numbers who eventually sign up, the logistics could be difficult to ensure. She also noted that at the height of dangerous emergency situations like the October storm, even volunteers might be directed not to travel throughout the borough, with outreach then limited to police and other OEM responders.

"As the teams gets to know the residents, we will be able to differentiate their situations," Biggs said, likening the assignment of priority to a triage operation. "If we had, say, 100 residents signed up - which I hope we get if not more - we might establish that 15 or so really need close or frequent attention, while others may be basically OK, even though the volunteers will obviously be in touch as directed."